CHOOSING THE RIGHT COOKWARE

CHOOSING THE RIGHT COOKWARE

With all of the different brands, shapes, materials and price points out there, buying cookware can be a confusing proposition. But it doesn't have to be. With a little bit of knowledge of cookware shapes and terms, and a little thinking about your own cooking style, you will be able to outfit your kitchen with a selection of pots and pans that will be most useful to you.

Know Your Shapes… And Which Ones You'll Need

There are dozens of different cookware shapes, from everyday workhorses like a skillet to specially shaped fish poachers. Familiarize yourself with the different cookware shapes and their names, and then decide which ones you'll actually need.

Although buying 7- or 10-piece sets often seem like a good deal, don't buy one unless you're sure you will use all the pieces regularly. Often there will be a few essential pieces, combined with odd shapes or sizes that you'll never use, which wastes both money and cabinet space. Instead, build up a collection over time as your budget and kitchen allows.

A few basics to start with:

A medium- to large-sized skillet (10 to 12 inches) for sautéing and stir-frying

A nonstick skillet for cooking eggs (8 to 10 inches)

A 6- to 8-quart Dutch oven(casserole dish) for cooking stews and soups, and for boiling water for pasta or potatoes

A saucepan or saucier for cooking smaller batches of soup, as well as sauces, rice and grains, and vegetables.Once you have the basics, build upon your collection with other pieces that make sense for your cooking style. Other useful cookware pieces include:

A small saucepan (1 or 2 quarts) for melting butter, boiling an egg or heating a can of soup

A wok if you do a lot of stir-frying

Additional sizes of nonstick or uncoated stainless steel skillet, depending on how many people you cook for. A small nonstick skillet is great for cooking 2 scrambled eggs or an omelet, while a very large one can be used to cook a big batch of eggs, pancakes or bacon.

A cast-iron skillet (10 to 12 inches) for searing meat, making cornbread and more.

A grill pan for indoor grilling

An inexpensive stock pot for boiling water for pasta or potatoes, or for making stock

Additional sizes of saucepan

If you don't have one already, a or saucier for cooking risotto and grains, or for making custards and delicate sauces

A steamer insert

A double boiler for melting chocolate or making delicate egg-based sauces